HIBISCUS CHILDREN’S CENTER
Saving Children for 30 Years
OUR MISSION
To maintain a safe shelter for children who are abused, abandoned and neglected by providing prevention, early intervention, and advocacy in quality residential, assessment and recovery programs.
OUR VISION
To eliminate child abuse, neglect and abandonment.
Hibiscus Children’s Center
Transforming the Lives of Abused, Abandoned and Neglected Children for over 30 years.
Hibiscus Children’s Center provides children with
Hibiscus Shelter Transforms 10-Year Old’s Life
Tommy is a 10 year old boy living at the Hibiscus Shelter. When he arrived at the Shelter about a year ago, Tommy was a very different kid. His story is a perfect example of the life-changing services provided by the Hibiscus Shelter program and a testament to the loving staff and volunteers.
It was probably the most traumatic day of Tommy’s life. His mother passed away in the hotel room they were living in – while Tommy was there. He had to wait all afternoon for his step-dad to return and call 911. Tommy was removed from his step-dad’s care and placed at the Hibiscus Shelter. He was scared, traumatized, severely depressed and sadly, he weighed 260 lbs. To make matters worse, Tommy had not been in school for over a year. Hibiscus Children’s Center did what we do best. Immediately, we began providing Tommy with grief counseling to help with the devastating loss of his mother. These critical Mental Health services were provided by trauma-trained professional therapists. The staff noticed that Tommy had hygiene issues and didn’t know how to properly brush his teeth. The staff provided the guidance and nurturing that he needed. The next step was making arrangements for his education. The Shelter Education Coordinator worked closely with Tommy several hours a week to prepare him to test for placement in public school. He tested at a 3rd grade level. The staff were also concerned that Tommy might by the target of bullying due to his weight issue. Our Education Coordinator discussed her concerns with his teacher which resulted in a warm welcome from the students when Tommy arrived on his first day. The kids were gracious and kind and it was a positive experience for Tommy. He also had a new haircut, new clothes and a new sense of confidence that was beginning to develop. Over time, he joined several activities and lost 42 lbs. The staff were very proud of Tommy and continued to encourage his healthy eating habits. He also joined the YMCA and played soccer. Some of the fun Shelter outings include hikes and nature walks and Tommy was right there with the rest of the kids enjoying the outdoors. Another exciting development in Tommy’s story was when he was taken off his depression medication.
Today, a year later, Tommy is still doing great. He continues to learn how to cope with the loss and trauma he has experienced, while enjoying school, friends, activities and the chance to just be a 10-year old boy. Tommy’s life has no doubt been transformed by the Hibiscus Shelter Program, volunteers, staff and the generosity of our supporters who make our programs possible.
Hibiscus Shelter Transforms 10-Year Old’s Life
Tommy is a 10 year old boy living at the Hibiscus Shelter. When he arrived at the Shelter about a year ago, Tommy was a very different kid. His story is a perfect example of the life-changing services provided by the Hibiscus Shelter program and a testament to the loving staff and volunteers.
It was probably the most traumatic day of Tommy’s life. His mother passed away in the hotel room they were living in – while Tommy was there. He had to wait all afternoon for his step-dad to return and call 911. Tommy was removed from his step-dad’s care and placed at the Hibiscus Shelter. He was scared, traumatized, severely depressed and sadly, he weighed 260 lbs. To make matters worse, Tommy had not been in school for over a year. Hibiscus Children’s Center did what we do best. Immediately, we began providing Tommy with grief counseling to help with the devastating loss of his mother. These critical Mental Health services were provided by trauma-trained professional therapists. The staff noticed that Tommy had hygiene issues and didn’t know how to properly brush his teeth. The staff provided the guidance and nurturing that he needed. The next step was making arrangements for his education. The Shelter Education Coordinator worked closely with Tommy several hours a week to prepare him to test for placement in public school. He tested at a 3rd grade level. The staff were also concerned that Tommy might by the target of bullying due to his weight issue. Our Education Coordinator discussed her concerns with his teacher which resulted in a warm welcome from the students when Tommy arrived on his first day. The kids were gracious and kind and it was a positive experience for Tommy. He also had a new haircut, new clothes and a new sense of confidence that was beginning to develop. Over time, he joined several activities and lost 42 lbs. The staff were very proud of Tommy and continued to encourage his healthy eating habits. He also joined the YMCA and played soccer. Some of the fun Shelter outings include hikes and nature walks and Tommy was right there with the rest of the kids enjoying the outdoors. Another exciting development in Tommy’s story was when he was taken off his depression medication.
Today, a year later, Tommy is still doing great. He continues to learn how to cope with the loss and trauma he has experienced, while enjoying school, friends, activities and the chance to just be a 10-year old boy. Tommy’s life has no doubt been transformed by the Hibiscus Shelter Program, volunteers, staff and the generosity of our supporters who make our programs possible.
